Catherwood LibraryILR School

On Wednesday, the Ohio Senate voted 17 to 16 in favor of a bill that would limit collective bargaining rights and put power in the hands of local officials. 6 Republicans voted against the bill, citing issues like the amount of power the bill gives to local officials, who will be able to decide contracts in the event of an impasse. Republican Senators said that the measure was counter-intuitive given that lawmakers were the reason for the budget crisis in the first place, and that there was no way for them to be objective in a settlement. Others talked about the elimination of the right to strike for public workers, saying that without any leverage, collective bargaining was just "a conversation". Those who supported the bill say that it will give the government more flexibility and will allow it to function like the private sector, a sentiment which some questioned. Democrats say that they will put the bill on a ballot referendum this fall.The bill is expected to be passed by the Assembly next week.